Role of both branding and identity design is crucial for a brand. In order to stand out from competitors, attract customers, and build trust and recognition; a strong brand identity is highly important for brands. In this guide to branding and identity design, we will discuss some tips, steps and real examples to create a cohesive visual identity for a brand.
Making Brand Identity Design in 4 Simple Steps
Follow these simple 4 steps and get a coherent identity design for your brand:
1. Define your brand
Going without planning is like throwing arrows in the darkness without having any target to hit. By defining your brand’s real targeting audience, vision, mission as well as values, you can easily plan how your branding journey will take place.
Consider this example:
We can consider the example of Nike at this point which has become a global popular brand because of its strong brand identity.
Before creating its brand identity, Nike spent time in defining its brand and come up with a centered idea which is based on empowering and helpingthe players, athletes, and sports lovers to challenge their limits and achieve their true goals.
Nike’sswoosh logo, “Just Do It” slogan, colors, typography and even the graphics are based on the centered idea that they come up with from the planning phrase.
Overall, Nike’s success can be attributed in part to its well-defined brand. By taking the time to define its brand values and personality, Nike was able to create a brand identity that accurately influence their targeting audience.
2. Choose a color palette
Building a brand’s personality and identity without considering the colors is good-for-nothing. Colors are in lead whenever designers have to evoke certain emotions. Thus, leaving it behind in branding is not possible. It should be your main job to plan for what colors your brand will have to present itself. Choosing right colors is highly important and you should consider pickup those particular colors or color palette that matches with your brand’s vision.
Let’s better understand with some examples:
- Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola’s color palette consists of red and white. Here key color is Red which represents passion, excitement as well as energy. The color red also helps to make Coca-Cola’s branding materials stand out and grab attention.
- Apple: Apple’s color palette consists of white and shades of grey. This minimalist color palette reflects Apple’s focus on simplicity, elegance, and innovation.
- Spotify: Spotify’s color palette consists of green, black, and white. The use of green reflects Spotify’s focus on growth, freshness, and energy. The color palette is also designed to be easy on the eyes, which is important for a brand that is associated with music and audio.
3. Plan for a logo
Talking about brand image without a logo, how is this possible?
Logo is as much important as other elements for establishing a successfully identity for the brand. It works like a symbol of recognisation for a brand.
In order to get the designing of logo done in the right way, hiring a professional graphic designer is must. And for those who are planning to design logos by their own; ADMEC has a graphic design premium course which enables the aspiring brand make to create their own design stuff by learning leading tools in few months.
Coming back to main point i.e. logo.
What are the qualities of an ideal logo? Well, it should be memorable and capable in delivering the vibes of brand’s personality and values.
Few effectively designed logos
Here are a few examples of logos that have been designed to be effective in communicating a brand’s identity:
- Nike: The Nike logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the world. The simple “swoosh” design is both memorable and versatile. The shape of the swoosh suggests movement and speed, which is consistent with Nike’s brand values of empowerment and performance.
- McDonald’s: We can also consider, McDonald’s logo in which the use of yellow and red colors is associated with happiness and excitement. This is what consistent with McDonald’s brand values of fun and enjoyment.
- Apple: Who can forget Apple? Apple’s logo has a special place in the list of most popular logo design because of its minimalist design. The use of a simple apple shape and monochromatic color scheme is consistent with Apple’s brand values of simplicity and elegance.
- FedEx: The FedEx logo is a clever design that incorporates a hidden arrow between the “E” and “X”. This design is memorable and unique, and it suggests movement and speed, which is consistent with FedEx’s brand values of efficiency and reliability.
- Coca-Cola: The logo of Coca-Cola comes among the iconic designs that stood the test of time. People instantly recognize the colors of logo and its iconic script font and also associate it Coca-Cola.
4. Develop a visual language
In addition to a logo, your brand identity should include a range of other design elements like typography, images or graphics and patterns. It is also important to ensure that these elements should be consistent and used in a cohesive way across all of your branding materials.
Consider these examples:
Here are a few examples of brands that have developed a strong visual language:
- Apple: Apple visual language is characterized by a minimalist design aesthetic, the use of high-quality product photography, and a consistent color palette. You can also call it the branding success of Apple.
- Target: Target’s visual language is characterized by the use of bold, bright colors, clean typography, and a playful design aesthetic. The brand’s use of a distinctive bullseye logo, combined with their unique color scheme, helps to create a recognizable and memorable visual identity.
- Nike: Nike’s visual language is characterized by the use of bold, high-contrast graphics, and a minimalist design aesthetic. The brand’s iconic “swoosh” logo is used consistently across all marketing materials, and is often paired with inspirational messaging that reinforces Nike’s brand values of empowerment and performance.
Brand Guidelines
Developing a brand identity doesn’t mean that you are all set to go. It is important to set up a unique brand guidelines to stand out from others.
This includes guidelines for typography, color, imagery, and more. By creating brand guidelines, you can follow the path of consistency of designing.
Certainly, here are a few examples of brands that have created effective brand guidelines:
- Airbnb: Airbnb’s brand guidelines are designed to ensure consistency and clarity in all of their marketing materials. The guidelines cover not only the logo but also the tone of voice for written communications. One of the key features of Airbnb’s brand guidelines is their use of a distinctive color palette.
- Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola’s brand guidelines are designed to ensure that their brand is always presented in a positive and consistent way. The guidelines cover a wide range of topics, including the use of the Coca-Cola logo, the design of packaging and advertising materials, and even the way that employees dress and behave in public. Coca-Cola’s brand guidelines have helped to establish their brand as one of the most recognizable and beloved in the world.
- Google: Google’s brand guidelines are designed to ensure that their brand is presented consistently across all of their products and services. One of the key features of Google’s brand guidelines is their use of a simple and minimalist design aesthetic, which is consistent with their brand values of simplicity and ease of use.
- Slack: Slack’s brand guidelines are designed to ensure that their brand is always presented in a way that is approachable and human. The guidelines cover topics such as the use of the Slack logo, the tone of voice used in written communications, and even the design of their office spaces. Slack’s brand guidelines have helped to establish their brand as a leader in the competitive workplace communication and collaboration space.
- Mailchimp: Mailchimp as a successful email marketing platform has come up with its own brand guidelines. The guidelines cover topics such as the use of the Mailchimp logo, the design of their website and mobile app, and even the way that customer support agents interact with customers. Mailchimp’s brand guidelines have helped to establish their brand as a leader in the email marketing space.
- Nike: Nike’s brand guidelines emphasize the brand’s values of empowerment and performance, and focus on the use of bold, high-contrast graphics and typography. The guidelines also specify guidelines for the use of the Nike logo, and provide specifications for product photography and iconography.
- Starbucks: Starbucks’ brand guidelines emphasize the brand’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, and focus on the use of a distinctive color palette and typography. The guidelines also provide specifications for the use of the Starbucks logo, as well as guidelines for product packaging and in-store signage.
- Apple: Apple’s brand guidelines emphasize simplicity and minimalism, and focus on the use of white space, clean typography, and a consistent color palette. The guidelines also specify guidelines for product photography, iconography, and use of the Apple logo.
Overall, these examples demonstrate how effective brand guidelines are for creating a powerful and successful brand identity.
What Next In Our Guide to Branding and Identity Design?
Apply your brand identity
Now the turn is for applying the brand’s identity on all possible platforms and mediums. This can cover everything from printed stuff of marketing to websites as well as the digital social media.
Set consistency in design elements
Use your brand colors consistently across all the platforms. For example, Airbnb uses a distinctive color palette of white, gray, and coral too in all the formats from print to digital.
Also follow the same method on fonts just like Google which uses the font “Product Sans” across all of their products and marketing materials, helping to create a consistent and recognizable visual identity.
Use your brand voice
Bring consistently for brand voice across all written communications. For example, Mailchimp uses a friendly and approachable tone of voice in all of their written communications, helping to reinforce their brand values of simplicity and ease of use.
Use your brand imagery
Work on bringing consistency in your brand imagery like Nike. Nike uses bold, high-contrast imagery featuring athletes in action across all of their marketing materials, helping to reinforce their brand values of empowerment and performance.
Create a response identity for brand
Ensure to follow the rule of design consistency on all breakpoints and screens sizes. Also include printed or physical marketing materials it in. For example, Target’s brand identity is consistent across all touchpoints, from their website to their in-store signage. This is what gives a sense of true and trustable brand for its customers.
Overall, applying your brand identity consistently across all touchpoints is essential for creating a brand known by others. By using consistent design elements, typography, color palettes, and messaging, brands can create a cohesive and memorable brand identity.
Closing Remarks on Guide to Branding and Identity Design
So, we can now conclude this discussion on building branding and identity for a new brand. These tips and steps from our guide to branding and Identity design are worthy to follow for all types of brands and startups to build a strong brand identity. Please remember to stick with the discussed points to avoid any inconsistency.
Start making your own brand identity
If you are very fresher and don’t have enough idea about branding and designing then it is important to follow this guide to branding and identity design and work on your necessary skills.
By learning the skills and techniques and following this guide to Branding and Identity Design branding and identity design, you can become an expert in developing cohesive visual identities that resonate with customers and communicate the values of a brand effectively.
Popular Graphic Design Programs at ADMEC
At ADMEC, we offer a wide range of certificate and diploma courses in graphic design that cover branding and identity design in detail.
Here are some of the most popular graphic design courses in Delhi to opt for:
Hands-on training by the experts at our design training institute on the latest tools and techniques used in the industry will help students prepare themselves as per the standards of the industry.
By joining our courses, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to create effective brand identities and establish yourself as a skilled graphic designer.
Get more details by exploring our design courses and start your journey towards becoming a branding and identity design expert today!
